The Outpost Vol 1 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

182 THE OUTPOST.
True. we have not just come from town, and Prees
Heath in itself fully deserved to be described as
one of the last places contemplated and with
reluctance carried into a state of fruition; but
those dear old huts (new, really, but they seem old
now) were so near Chester, Shrewsbury (H and
especially \Vem," a voice whispers as I write) that
we actually imagined ourselves living at those
places. Therefore, granted the loveliness of Wensley,
and the charm of her romance, she loses in the
comparison. Ere getting to the informative notes,
it might be remembered that this confounded wet
weather more than anything else has led to the
opinion that the implied colloquialism sums things
up to a nicety;
Folks away yonder in Glasgow, who have friends
in C, will be wonder~ng what the Company have
been doing since arrival at the North Riding.
Practically nil as a Company would be the proper
thing to say, but the almighty Editor has willed
that this pen must not stop yet awhile. The
Battalion, as the scribes of the other Companies no
doubt have observed, is making a bold effort to
work itself into a spot of grease by daily manreuvres
or route marches, and little chance has been given
the Companies individually to carry some of their
theories into practice. The other week, however,
Captain Morton had us at Middleham Moor, and
along with D we carried out some very successful
attacks. Poor C had to run the gauntlet in a
machine gun swept valley, but plied the rifle with
such accuracy that in a short time the gun signalled
itself out of action. Truly, we live in exciting
times 1
As indicated in the opening paragraph, C has a
decided eye for the beautifu,l, and some weird yarns
about sore feet have percolated through to the
Quarter.Master (via C.-Q.-M.-S. Ferds) since the
arrival of the brown boots. By the way, ye outsiders,
the "browns" are capital affairs with
broad toes, and if you look around you may get a
glimpse of them i·n Glasgow these days of week-end
leave-Please, Mr. Editor, the purpose of this par.
(oh, yes, it has a purpose 1) is to show that our
worldly needs are being attended to !
The arrival of the new rifles has set C, in common
with the other Companies, agog with excitement,
and a lust to use them. So far only the N.C.O.s
have got them, but it is understood that the men
will receive an issue shortly. To the day when they
will be used ! I /
D COMPANY.
IT is with some misgiving that we take up the pen
to put on record the doings of the Company for the
past month. It seems but yesterday since we were
confronted with the Editor's" Have you D Company's
notes ready yet?" Then followed a night
of tossing and turning on our late lamented
comfortable bed, and little or nothing to show for
it in the morning. Still we must" stick it" and
make the best of a bad job.
The one item of outstanding importance in the
last four weeks was the move from Prees to our
present station, which we expect is fully dealt with
elsewhere in this issue. As we were the first
Company to leave vVhitchurch, perhaps a word
here would not be amiss. Considering the short
time we were at Prees Heath we made some very
good friends. We were only beginning to get
settled down and used to the way of our English
friends when we had to leave. The hospitality
extended to us was a very pleasant surprise, and we
venture to think we would travel far in our own
country to find its equal. The send-off at the
station was very enthusiastic, and the road between
Dodington and the station must have held the best
part of the population of the district to see the last
of the " Scotties."
It will be of interest to D Company to know that
the Battalion huts at Prees were the cleanest in the
Brigade, and we have it on unimpeachable authority
that our own were the best in the Battalion. Bravo!
This is at least some recompense for all the hard
work we put in at floors, beds and tables.
Our life at \Venslev is not much different to what
it was before, excepf that we are getting nearer to
active service conditions, and have to dispense with
the little luxuries such as baths, etc., that we
enjoyed while in the huts.
The N.C.O.s have been issued with the rifle we
are to carry when we go abroad, and before this
appears in print the whole Battalion will probably
be armed with the same weapon.
The air and the climatic conditions are much
better here than at our last station, and when toiling
up some of the hills to the tralning areas it reminds
one of Dundonald Hill, only that was child's play
in comparison to some we have tackled recently.
It was rather unfortunate that .we were on
Company Training on the first sports day. We
returned to Camp after a gruelling day to find a
cricket match in progress and a boxing ring erected.
Some of the stalwarts of the noble art were standing
by to give instructions and incidentally a few bruises
to any aspirants. I't was noticed, however, that
even the best can come to grief, as one of our
instructors had a beautiful black eye in embryo.
\Ve must congratulate Sergeant Maxwell 011
coming out so well in the Machine Gun examination.
With regard to the new course of instruction. we
notice the name of Lieutenant RusselL We will be
very sorry to lose this officer, but as long as the
Battalion requires the best, D Company will not
grumble at their loss.
It is now beyond the shadow of a doubt that W'e
are going to India, as the C.-S.-M. is reported to
have a bottle of chutney in his tent. Keep it dark!
t t t
The Mascot Speaks.
THOUGH I'm young and feeble, shaky on my
feet,
Tethered in the camp lines, scarcely dare to bleat;
Still I've" let my light shine," as good books have
said,
And it's quite surprising how my influence spread.
For to-day a " corporal "-one stripe on his coat,
Called a shrinking private, " a silly blooming goat! "
And I've heard this also-twilight's shades amid,
"Soldier, stop your kiddin' !" "Good.night my
dearest kid! "
A. K.
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